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One billionaire beats two bickering Yanks: Benitez

Julian Guyer

Upbeat … Rafa Benitez is in charge until the season ends. Photo: Getty Images

LONDON: Rafael Benitez began his reign as Chelsea interim manager insisting working with Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich will be ''easier'' than the US owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks at Liverpool.

Benitez arrived at Chelsea on Thursday, and so became the club's ninth manager in a little more than eight years under the ownership of Abramovich.

Former Liverpool coach Benitez, 52, is only under contract until the end of the season after replacing Roberto Di Matteo, who was sacked on Wednesday after European champions Chelsea lost 3-0 at Juventus in the Champions League.

Chelsea's rapid turnover of managers under Abramovich has long been a topic of discussion in English football.

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Benitez, who had yet to meet the Blues' owner, said the experience could be no worse than the strained relationship with Gillett and Hicks that led to the Spaniard's departure from Liverpool two years ago.

''If you have two bosses who aren't talking to each other, it's difficult,'' he said. ''You want a striker and one of them says: 'I don't know …' This will be easier.''

Benitez will have a baptism of fire on Sunday when Manchester City, fresh from a draw with Real Madrid that scuppered their hopes of reaching the Champions League last 16, arrive in west London with a four-point lead over the hosts.

''Chelsea tried to win the Champions League for 10 years,'' City manager Roberto Mancini said. ''The Champions League is strange, different, and we have to be patient for this.''

Manchester United can overtake crosstown rivals City, if only for a day, at the top on Saturday when they face a bottom club QPR still looking for a first league win this season.

The match will be United's first since Friday's scheduled unveiling of a statue of manager Alex Ferguson who, in contrast to the managerial maelstrom elsewhere, has presided over the club for 26 years.

''He's a great example for all managers,'' said Nemanja Vidic, the United captain, of his 71-year-old Scottish boss.

West Bromwich Albion, the surprise package among the top four, will look to continue their impressive start under former Chelsea assistant Steve Clarke when they travel to Sunderland.

Arsenal and Everton will try to press their top-four claims against Aston Villa and Norwich respectively, with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger buoyed by the fact the top teams all seem to be dropping points.

''With what is going on in the league, it looks like the team that can show consistency has a chance, and if we are able to show consistency now we have a chance to come back to the top teams,'' Wenger said.

On Sunday, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers takes his team to former club Swansea, with both sides in mid-table.

Strugglers Southampton will look to build on last week's win over QPR at home to Newcastle as London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham meet at White Hart Lane.

In the Europa League on Thursday, Liverpool face a wait before securing a place in the last 32 after allowing Swiss side Young Boys to draw 2-2 at Anfield.

A much-changed Liverpool side let the Swiss off the hook after Jonjo Shelvey and the recalled Joe Cole had scored to sandwich a riposte from Raul Bobadilla.

The draw means Liverpool could need to win their final game at Udinese as Young Boys joined the Merseysiders on seven points.

Russia's Anzhi Makhachkala are already through from Group A after Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o scored in a 2-0 win over Udinese.

Tottenham could only draw 0-0 at Lazio - who qualify - meaning they also have to gain a point in their final game at home to Panathinaikos, who trail the Londoners by two points.

Former England star Paul Gascoigne, who played for both clubs with distinction, was close to tears as he received an ovation on attending the game in the Italian capital. Lazio fans hailed him as a ''lionheart'' and ''still our hero'' on his return to the city where he spent three seasons.

Another English Premier League side, Newcastle, did book their passage, however, despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Portugal's Maritimo after Fidelis cancelled out Sylvain Marveaux's opener for the Magpies.